Northeast Ohio Huddle: Region claims four state cross country titles

Northeast Ohio dominated the state cross country meet last weekend at
Columbus’s Scioto Downs as Peninsula Woodridge won its fourth-straight
D-II boys state championship and St. Ignatius took its third D-I title. Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s girls claimed the D-II girls’ team
title while the Independence boys won their first-ever state title in Division III.

Northeast Ohio dominated the state cross country meet last weekend at Columbus’s Scioto Downs. Peninsula Woodridge won its fourth-straight state championship in the boys’ Division II meet while the St. Ignatius boys took the team title, its third overall, in Division I.

Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s girls claimed the Division II girls’ team title while the Independence boys won its first-ever state title in its first-ever trip to the state meet as a team in Division III.

Woodridge (93 points to Elyria Catholic’s 98) was led by Kyle Cochrun in 12th at 16:24.88. He was followed by teammates Vibushan Sivakumar (18th), Jimmy Charles (29th), Drake Sulzer (40th) and Jacob Onifer (56th). The individual title in Division II went to Bay Village Bay’s Michael Brajdic in 15:49.81, outdistancing Circlevill’s Brad Liston’s 15:58.18.

Ignatius won the boys’ team title in the big school’s division with 82 points to beat out Cincinnati St. Xavier’s 118. Evan Baum placed 14th in 16:13.35 and was followed by John Sweeney in 31st, Nick Kobunski in 34th, Jordan Tropf in 36th and Chris Manuszak in 41st. Solon’s Connor Paez was second in 15:49.12, losing only to Mason’s Zach Willis (15:45.11).

Christina Blair of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy won the girls’ Division II title in 18:39.71 over Taylor Hatfield of Zane Trace (18:49.28) but it was the Luck of the Irish with their 98 to 105 win over St. Clairsville that led the Northeast.

Maria Arnone was seventh in 19:19.64 for the Irish while Emily Tomei added a ninth-place finish in 19:23.22. Marissa Rosetti tossed in a 47th, Molly Miloscia a 53rd and Anna Mion a finish in 84th.

Independence claimed the small-school title with 84 points, beating out St. Thomas Aquinas of Louisville’s 109 points. Independence was led by the brother duo of Ryan and Kyle Polman, as usual. Ryan was individual champion in 16:01.56 over Isaiah Bragg of Springfield Emmanuel (16:09.64). Kyle took fourth in 16:18.90 while Zach Scoczen was 14th, Cody George 31st and Michael Rusnaczyk 86th.CO-PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Trent Toy, Mike Mansnerus and Ronnie Willoughby, Avon Lake Football: The terrific trio combined for seven touchdowns and set new school standards for individual playoff totals while leading Avon Lake to a school-record 56 points in a 56-35 Division II first-round win over Maumee.

Avon Lake and Maumee combined for 858 yards of offense and 91 points as Toy was 9 of 15 for 251 yards and Willoughby had five receptions for 176 yards and four scores. Mansnerus had 31 carries for 198 yards and touchdown runs of 71 and 17 yards.

Honorable Mention goes to Chagrin Falls quarterback Chris Trinetti, who did it all in his team’s 41-13 bouncing of Campbell Memorial in a Division IV opening-round game.

Trinetti completed 10 of 13 passes for 100 yards and three touchdowns and rushed nine times for 80 yards and a score.TEAM OF THE WEEK

Rocky River Magnificat Girls’ Cross Country: Too tough to overlook, the Blue Streaks get this week’s nod as the top team. Magnificat scored a record-low 28 points to outdistance second-place Springboro’s 137 points.

The low score was the lowest ever in the state on either the boys or girls side. The previous low for a boys’ championship team was Salem in 1931 with 29 points. Cleveland Heights Beaumont won the title in 1995 on the girls’ side with 33 points.

It’s the second-straight title and third overall for the Blue Streaks, who placed their entire top five in All-Ohio status. Madeline Chambers was second in 18:07.35 while Meredith Wagner of Sylvania Northview was first in 18:03.90.

Clare Fischer placed seventh overall in 18:43.31 while sister Abby was eighth in 18:44.22. Abigail Marquad nailed 20th place in 19:11.58 while Erin Riley was 21st in 19:11.

RECAP

Solid Net Efforts: Despite losing in three games to tough teams, a pair of Northeast Ohio teams can still hold their heads up high today after losing in the state volleyball semifinals at Wright State University.

Tuscarawas Central Catholic dropped a Division IV semifinal to Norwalk St. Paul 25-14, 25-12, 25-15 but still got a monster 16-kill, 16-dig game from junior 1,000-kill standout Millie Patchan and 14 assists from 1,000-assist, 1,000 kill senior dynamo Molly Lawless.Krushing Kramer: Gilmour senior Mary Kramer closed out an outstanding career with her team in their 18-25, 25-21, 28-26, 11-25, 15-10 loss in the Division III regional finals to Smithville.

Kramer tallied 24 kills, 20 digs and four service aces as she finished her varsity career with an overall record of 100-12.Putting the Wood To’em: Malvern quarterback Doug Wood was 12 of 13 passing for 140 yards and four touchdowns while rushing 18 times for 151 yards and a score in his team’s 43-0 first-round win over Symmes Valley. Travis Tucci caught three touchdown passes.The Two Zachs: When Cuyahoga Heights starting quarterback Zach D’Orazio went out with a “woozy” feeling with his team up 14-0 against Apple Creek Waynedale in a first-round Division V game, Zach Noernberg took over and filled in better than admirably in a 28-7 win.

D’Orazio had 95 rushing and 67 passing yards when he left while Noernberg tallied a 31-yard touchdown run and 70 total yards on the ground on 10 carries.Shaq Holding Rogers for Ransom: Maple Heights dominated No. 3 seed Toledo Rogers 36-26 offensively as quarterback Shaq Washington tallied 222 yards on 25 carries with scoring runs of 39 and one yard. He also was 8 of 9 passing for 95 yards. Teammate DeVonte Ransom had 25 carries for 170 yards with scoring runs of 2, 9 and 36 yards.Getting Defensive: In Canton GlenOak’s 40-21 win over Wadsworth, DeShawn Hall had two interceptions returned for touchdowns of 30 and 100 yards.

In Massillon’s 17-10 win over North Canton Hoover, Massillon’s Bo Grunder had 16 tackles.Magical Medina: The Medina Bees girls’ soccer team earned its first state tournament berth since 1998 by shutting out Sylvania Northview 4-0. It was goalkeeper Taylor Burke’s 16th shutout of the year for the 19-1-2 Bees.

Sarah Flanders scored two goals for Medina.Kelly Krushin’: In Peninsula Woodridge’s 49-28 Division IV playoff win over Martins Ferry, running back Anthony Kelly had 207 rushing yards with three touchdowns.Vroomin’ Vlad: Vlad Lekarev of Strongsville scored both the game-tying goal and the game-winning goal in his team’s 2-1 overtime win over Toledo St. John’s.

Lekarev scored the tying goal on an assist from Nate Langhalswith and got the game-winner 7:56 into overtime.Running Wild-er: Canton McKinley’s Bryce Wilder amazed Toledo Whitmer in a matchup of 8 vs. 1 that was won by the No. 8 Bulldogs 34-13. Wilder rushed for 150 yards on 24 carries with two scores and caught a 31-yard touchdown pass.Throw into Goal: Lake Catholic defeated Youngstown Cardinal Mooney in a Division III boys’ soccer regional final thanks to Manny Valderama’s goal on a long throw-in from teammate Ben Bukavec.Deadly Arrows: Ashland defeated West Geauga 28-7 behind a monster night from quarterback Marcus Fuller. Fuller was 22 of 34 for 309 yards, three interceptions and just one pick.

Even on the interception, Fuller was dazzling, chasing down the defender to prevent a score as the defense came out and held West G to no points. He also threw a 68-yard touchdown on third and 18 to Darrik Yetzer to put the game out of reach.

On the season, Fuller is 177 of 304 for 2,625 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also has seven rushing scores.

Fuller hit Chris Thomas with a scoring pass of 62 yards, Yetzer for 68 yards and Chris Dowiatt for five yards.Hammerin’ Hathaway: Hathaway Brown reached the state semifinals in Division II thanks to a 2-1 double overtime win over Chagrin Falls. Birdie Wargo scored a goal and had an assist on a cross to Lani Smith.The Touchdown Connection: Lake Catholic’s passing duo of quarterback Jerrod Ronyak and wideout Zach Cvelbar may have moved to Mentor from different schools but both were in sync in their team’s 34-16 Division IV win over Ravenna.

Ronyak, a transfer last year from Burton Berkshire, passed for 291 yards on 10 of 13 accuracy while Cvelbar, a Villa Angela-St. Joseph transfer, caught seven passes for 195 yards and scoring jaunts of 65 and 39 yards.Let’s Be Franc-o: In Cortland Lakeview’s 24-13 win over Akron Manchester, Anthony Franco was 9 of 18 passing for 156 yards and two scores.ON TAP

St. Ignatius vs. Cleveland Glenville Football, Division I Second Round at Lakewood Stadium, Saturday, 7 p.m.: Undefeated, top-ranked and fourth-ranked in the country St. Ignatius beat Boardman 17-0 as Mark Myers threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns.

Glenville’s only loss of the year was to Ignatius in the first game of the season. The Tarblooders beat North Royalton 41-16 last week as Cardale Jones was 12 of 19 for 224 yards and Shane Wynn caught three receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns.Solon vs. Mayfield Football, Division I Second Round at Parma Byers Field at Boulton Stadium, Saturday, 7 p.m.: This is a rematch of a game played early in the season when Solon, now 11-0, beat Mayfield 27-20, its only loss of the year. Mayfield and its stingy defense beat Parma 38-7 last week behind 141 yards rushing and two scores by Tim Wetzel.

Solon defeated Euclid 10-7 in a tight game where they were outgained offensively by Euclid 240-110.Smithville vs. Adena Volleyball, Division III State Semifinal at Wright State University, Today, noon: Smithville sits 26-2 while Adena knocked off top-ranked Tuscarawas Valley in the regional semifinals and is 25-2. Smithville is led by senior hitter Jenna Pew.St. Ignatius vs. Gahanna Lincoln Boys’ Soccer, Division I State Championship at Crew Stadium, Tonight, 7 p.m.: St. Ignatius topped Strongsville 1-0 in the state semifinals as goalie Joe Kalt simply added to his state-record for career shutouts which now stands at 44. Alec King scored the lone goal of the match on an assist from Luke Blades.

Medina vs. Dublin Coffman Girls’ Soccer, Division I State Championship at Crew Stadium, Saturday, 1:30 p.m.: Medina got a goal from Rebecca Chandler with 33:59 left in the state semifinal win over Walsh Jesuit to account for the only goal in the 1-0 win. Burke scored her 17th shutout of the year for the 20-1-2 Bees, who were outshot 18-7 as Burke grabbed 14 saves. It was Chandler’s 18th goal of the season.

The loss by Walsh was its first of the year against 18 wins and two ties.Bay vs. St. Francis DeSales Boys’ Soccer, Division II State Championship at Crew Stadium, Today, 3:30 p.m.: Bay beat Lake Catholic 1-0 by taking a shootout 4-2 in its state semifinal matchup. Bay advanced to state with a 4-1 win over Lexington in the regional finals. Will Irvine had two goals.Canal Fulton Northwest vs. Dover Football, Division III Second Round at Canton Fawcett Stadium, Tonight, 7:30 p.m.: These teams have met quite a bit in the postseason and feature a pair of dominating passers. Northwest beat Buckeye Local 28-20 on the road last week as Bryan Jones was 25 of 33 passing for 320 yards and a rushing touchdown. Evan Bach also rushed for two scores and Shawn Hoffman caught six passes for 134 yards.

Dover is led by quarterback Marcus Mamarella, who last week in a 42-0 win over Harrison Central, completed 11 of 19 passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 50 yards on seven carries.Hathaway Brown vs. Bexley Girls’ Soccer, Division II State Championship at Crew Stadium, Saturday, 10 a.m.: Brown dominated St. Mary’s Memorial 2-0 in the semifinals of the state tournament at Lexington as Wargo scored the first goal a minute into the second half on an assist from Kylie Kaufman and Smith put the game away later in the half.

Brown is looking for its second state title in three years and is now 16-2-3.Mentor Lake Catholic vs. Canfield Football, Division II Second Round at Twinsburg Tiger Stadium, Tonight, 7:30 p.m.: Lake Catholic, the No. 1 seed at 10-1, defeated Ravenna 34-16 while Canfield, at 10-1, is the No. 4 seed who beat Aurora 31-14.Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy vs. Worthington Christian Boys’ Soccer, Division III State Championship at Crew Stadium, Today, noon: CVCA defeated Chippewa 5-1 to improve to 16-0-5 this year. The state runners-up a year ago have been on target on the postseason. Against the Chipps, five different Royals scored goals. Jack Risman, Tim Hudec, Jack Thompson, Evan Crocker and Sachem Wilson all hit the back of the net.

In a 2-1 win over Wellington in the regional finals, Thompson and Stephen Morris both scored as Crocker and Thompson both registered assists.